NFL
As the Seattle Seahawks take the practice field June 12th for mandatory minicamp, one big name will be missing. Per his Twitter, Seahawks All-Pro Safety Earl Thomas has decided to sit out minicamp until a contract extension is offered. Thomas, now on the last year of a four-year, $40 million deal, is looking for security as he enters 2018.
Earl Thomas’s Tweet
At 7 am this morning, Thomas went to Twitter to explain the situation and express apologies to both his Seattle teammates and fans for missing minicamp. “I want everyone, especially the 12s, to know that I want to remain a Seahawk for the rest of my career but also believe that based on my production over the last 8 years that I’ve earned the right to have this taken care of as soon as possible” Thomas wrote in the statement he posted to Twitter. He added, “I hope my teammates understand where I’m coming from I believe this is the right thing to do.”
The tweet follows months of speculation swirling around the safety. Thomas had been rumored to be on the trade block earlier in the offseason, with Dallas as the most notable destination. But as the team entered OTAs this offseason with Thomas still on the roster, it was clear that the Seahawks have the All-Pro Safety in their plans.
Lack of Communication
According to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, “There have been no negotiations and none on the horizon.” With the safety stating his desire to be with the team long-term, the ball is in Seattle’s court to reopen talks.
Thomas is under contract for just this season, set to make $8.5 million. While making the 4th most among his position in 2018, Earl Thomas desires long-term financial stability.
Missing Earl Thomas Would Be a Big Blow
With an apparent disconnect between Thomas and Seahawks brass, it’s unclear how far both sides will take this stalemate. As an NFC West contender, Seattle’s Secondary would take a big hit if Earl Thomas missed any extended time. Regarded as an elite safety, the Seahawks will hope to settle this contract situation before Week 1.
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This article was originally written by former TSJ101SPORTS NFL Department Head and writer William Zurcher. Due to systems modalities, the article has been assigned to the author tag designation “Former Writers”.
